Community water fluoridation not linked to lower birth weight, a widely accepted indicator of infant health and predictor of later-life outcomes, large US study finds (11 million births over 21 years). The findings provide reassurance about the safety of fluoridated drinking water during pregnancy.
https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/community-water-fluoridation-not-linked-lower-birth-weight-large-u-s-study-finds
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**Community Water Fluoridation Not Linked to Lower Birth Weight, Large U.S. Study Finds**
Rigorous analysis of the nationwide rollout of fluoridation finds no impact on a key measure of infant health
A new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health finds that community water fluoridation (CWF) is not associated with significant changes in birth weight—a widely accepted indicator of infant health and a predictor of later-life outcomes. **The findings provide reassurance about the safety of fluoridated drinking water during pregnancy**. The results are published in JAMA Network Open(link is external and opens in a new window).
Community water fluoridation is one of the most widely implemented public health interventions in the United States and has long been promoted as a safe and effective strategy to prevent dental cavities. While its benefits for oral health are well established, recent studies have raised questions about possible unintended effects of fluoride exposure, particularly during prenatal and early-life periods.
The researchers analyzed the staggered rollout of community water fluoridation across U.S. counties between 1968 and 1988. **The study included over 11 million singleton births across 677 counties over a 21-year period**. Birth outcome data were obtained from the National Vital Statistics System’s Natality Detail Files, maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics. Information on county-level fluoridation status came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 1992 Water Fluoridation Census.
The analysis compared birth outcomes within counties before and after the introduction of CWF, using counties that never fluoridated—or had not yet fluoridated—as controls. By the end of 1988, nearly 90 percent of counties had adopted CWF, corresponding to approximately half of the U.S. population.
Across all post-treatment periods, estimated changes in birth weight were small and not statistically meaningful, ranging from a decrease of 8.4 grams to an increase of 7.2 grams. Overall, the study found no evidence that community water fluoridation was associated with adverse birth outcomes.
“Our findings provide reassurance about the safety of community water fluoridation during pregnancy,” the researchers said. “By using a rigorous population-level design, this study contributes to the broader discussion of potential side effects of fluoride exposure and underscores the importance of strong empirical methods when evaluating large-scale public health interventions.”
For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2844076
Elise Bassin, a Harvard researcher, led a study that found boys exposed to fluoridated water during early childhood—particularly between ages 6 and 8—had a significantly increased risk of developing osteosarcoma, a rare and often fatal bone cancer. The study, published in 2006 and based on a case-control analysis of 103 osteosarcoma patients under 20, reported that boys who drank fluoridated water during this growth spurt were 5.46 times more likely to develop the cancer by age 20 compared to those with low fluoride exposure. The risk was highest at age 7, with a sevenfold increase at fluoride levels above 1 mg/L (the recommended maximum).
I have no idea why any municipality entertains any of this BS from idiotic people. If you don’t want to drink fluorinated water go out and get yourself some bottled water or water delivery service or something else. They have no right whatsoever to inflict their views on everybody else.